Toronto Metropolitan University student Avi Franklin-Casseres said he has deep concerns about the school’s lack of attention towards Jewish students amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. “Numerous Jewish students, myself included, have been profoundly affected by the tragic terrorist events last Saturday,” said Franklin-Casseres in a Monday letter to TMU. “It is distressing to witness the inadequate support for Jewish students' safety and the glaring omission of essential details in recent statements about the conflict in Israel.”The statement TMU issued about the Israel-Hamas conflict did not specify the affected communities, the nature of the event and its exact location. Franklin-Casseres said referring to these attacks as having occurred in the Middle East is too broad and nondescript. If TMU wants to fight antisemitism, he said it begins with acknowledging and understanding the pain and suffering of the Jewish community. He added events in Israel “have a direct effect on Jews worldwide, and it is imperative that TMU offer its unwavering support to mitigate antisemitism on campus.”Moreover, he said he was troubled by the statement from the TMU Palestine Culture Club (TMUPCC). TMUPCC dismissed the value of human lives and appeared to justify Hamas’ actions.He acknowledged he supports the expression of Palestinian culture on campus and stands by their human rights struggles. However, he said TMU’s silence on this statement is concerning. While he is being critical of the school, he said he does not want to stifle Palestinian voices or diminish their struggles and grievances. He is approaching it as a Jew who is filled with pain and anxiety. Since it has not made a meaningful statement, he said many Jewish students have felt isolated and unsupported. In light of these events, he implored the administration to reflect on the consequences of remaining silent or ambiguous during these times. Franklin-Casseres concluded by saying the TMU community “should strive to rise above divisive narratives, promote understanding, and most importantly, stand united against hate and violence.”“I hope you will take the concerns expressed in this email seriously, and I look forward to seeing tangible steps taken by TMU in support of its Jewish students and in fostering an environment where all feel recognized and protected,” he said. This ordeal comes after York University’s student unions praised Hamas terrorists’ actions as necessary and condemned Canada and Israel as illegitimate settler colonial states on Thursday. READ MORE: Toronto university student unions say Hamas terrorism needed“We are in way more trouble in this country than we realize,” said AK Strategies Managing Principal Anthony Koch. “Wow.”
